Gates of Lodore - Green River Rafting

Gates of Lodore on the Green River

My brother-in-law pulled the permit for May 11-15, 2023! Woot woot!!

THE CREW: 10 people BOAT 1: brother-in-law, sister-in-law + their 2 girls (ages 11 + 9) BOAT 2: father-in-law, father-in-laws brother BOAT 3: husband, myself + our 2 girls (ages 9 + 8) "Cuzzies" refers to the 4 girl cousins.

GEAR: 3 rafts (1 - 14' RMR and 2 - 15' Bris all pumped to 2-2.5 and floors to 2.5), 3 spare oars, 3 large coolers, 3 "day size" coolers, 4 tents (the cuzzies shared 1), 10 personal large dry bags, 12 life vests (1 extra adult size and 1 extra kid size), 10 helmets, 10 sets of splash gear (our family did Grundens bib pants (and jackets for the girls)), 10 pairs of neoprene gloves, 10 large water bottles (our family used Hydro Flask), 6 folding chairs, 2 hammocks, 1 major medical kit, 3 smaller medical kits, 3 boat repair kits, 3 air pumps, 2 groovers (rented), 2 rescue kits (Z-Drag kit), 3 throw bags, Fireside Outdoor pop-up fire pit with fire blanket, firewood (which we were glad to have in a couple campsites, but we did overpack), my brother-in-laws boat carried the required paperwork.

Boats at launch.

KITCHEN GEAR: 5 - 5 gallon water jugs (we were out of water the last day), 2 collapsible tables, 2 stoves, dutch oven, big pan with lid/spatula/tongs, french press, olive oil, 3 kitchen bins [personal dishes and utensils, dish drying bag, large mesh strainer, propane bottles, lighter, 2 washing bins/soap/scrubber, 3 rolls paper towels, coffee + cups, ground tarp, 5 large black trash bags (1 per day), cutting board and knife, ziplock bags].

MY PERSONAL DRY BAG: 1 sleeping bag, 1 sleeping pad, 1 pillow with silk pillowcase, 1 headlamp, 1 charging block (I took a ton of photos and videos), 2 swim suits, 1 baseball cap, 1 winter hat, 5 undies, 5 pairs cozy socks, 1 fleece zip up jacket, 1 rain jacket, 1 sweatshirt, 1 pair sweatpants, 2 tank tops, 2 t-shirts, 2 sun guard long sleeve shirts, 2 NRS sun guard dresses, 1 pair shorts, 4 pairs leggings, 1 pair sneakers, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair muck boots, 2 extra large ziplock bags (labeled! 1 for wet clothing, 1 for dirty clothes), Tylenol, 1 book, 1 journal, playing cards, deodorant, biodegradable body wipes, razor, face wipes, lotion, sunscreen, and bug repellent (never used).

SIDE NOTES: •Something that every single one of us said we wished we would have brought more of was a heavier duty hand lotion. Every day at camp our hands would be so dry and chapped.  •Our weather was fairly consistent every day...warm to start then cooled down with mild rain and windy. Then as the sun would set it would clear back up. We brought gear for blazing hot and also snow pants and snow jackets, but ended up leaving that all at the vehicles.  •I actually put all our clothes in ziplock bags which was really helpful!  •Some of the gear is required - be sure to check requirements as this was inspected at launch.

FOOD: Each boat was on their own for lunches. Our family had sandwiches, wraps, pasta salad, and snack foods! Snacks: chips, dried mangoes, trail mix, granola bars, pre-cut fruit

breakfast burrito prep then frozen

Day 1 Dinner: baby back ribs (pre-cooked just needed heated), baked beans, corn, cucumber/tomato/red onion/Italian dressing salad, lemon blueberry loaf with cherry sauce

Day 2 Breakfast: breakfast burritos and pre-cut fruit

Day 2 Dinner: chicken Cuban bowls

Day 3 Breakfast: pre-cooked potatoes and bacon with fried eggs on top *Would have been better to have the pre-made breakfast burritos!*

Day 3 Dinner: pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, pasta salad, carrots/cucumbers and homemade ranch dip, bbq chips, pineapple upside down cake in the dutch oven

Day 4 Breakfast: breakfast burritos

Day 4 Dinner: homemade hamburger helper, green beans, applesauce

Day 5 Breakfast: breakfast burritos

Day 5 Dinner: a restaurant in Vernal

RAFTING:

Day One [on the river]: LAUNCH DAY! The sheer vastness of the cliffs was incredibly breathtaking. The red rocks were endless that first day.

The river was bony, and rocks were extremely difficult to see until we were basically on top of them.

Our first stop was a muddy pullover just across the river where we launched. We did a quick steep incline jaunt in order to get close to a dead bull elk, whom we lovingly named Bruce. The smell was wretched and I didn’t take any photos because..gross.

A little later the cuzzies jumped out and skipped along a white sand beach.

The whole crew (all 10 of us) hopped out at Winnie’s Grotto.

The mud suctioned our shoes down deep. I spent a good 10 minutes washing our girls and my sandals and then we joined everyone but the two oldest gentleman for a hike to the grotto. There was some snow, a dead mouse, and a squeeze through a rock which required taking off my life vest to fit.

Our campsite was Pot Creek. Aww, camp that first night was magic. Right next to the loud rushing creek and Uncle Steve’s ribs that melted off the bone. A most lovely first day.

Winnie's Grotto

Pot Creek

Day Two [on the river]: I woke up at 4:30am, laid in my sleeping bag listening to the rushing creek and finally decided to emerge around 5:30am. I was the first one up (well out of the tents at least). I started coffee and built the fire. Breakfast burritos hit the spot! We tore down camp, loaded the boats, did a final walk around and we were off.

Lots of baby geese, more mud, a few rapids. River was still bony, and rocks were still hard to see. One rapid is called Hell’s Half Mile and Lucifer’s Rock got us. Zach’s oar launched out of its lock, the boat spun 180° and we proceeded to drop down the rapid, backwards with one oar! We lurched side to side, pinging off boulders into what felt like a waterfall. I was forced out of my seat, pushed the girls bodies down into the boat, and somehow we all stayed in. Thankfully the oar ring saved our oar and Zach was able to grab it once we were out of the rapids.

The book 'Down the Great Unknown' calls 'Hell's Half Mile' one of the most technical whitewater rapids...and I believe it! Even with scouting and watching two boats go before us we still had a heck of a time! Oof. But we were through the worst of it for that day. Or so we thought! Coming around a bend we saw Isaac trying to dislodge a stuck oar (that bent and broke), while they were pinned on a massive boulder. Eventually Meg and their girls climbed out of the boat and up on top of the large rock. My husband got us to shore, grabbed the rescue bag, and booked it down river to help. Isaac had got the boat off the rock and was pulling it back up river for his girls to climb back in, so rescue wasn't needed.

It was a wild day on the river.

Meg’s amazing Cuban Bowls for dinner were just what the crew needed to fill up after the long day.

Limestone was our campsite, which was much quieter so I had a rough time sleeping.

Limestone

Day Three [on the river]: My father-in-law was the first one up. I joined him by the fire, made coffee, and then once the other adults emerged from their tents I made my version of Trader’s Taters.

It’s hard to believe so much was packed into this day…the Yampa River merged in! Where the river had been bony, and we got stuck on a few rocks, now the water was moving much quicker with little interferences in our way.

We did a short hike up to some petroglyphs, and then went across the river and perused Echo Park. A few of us hiked to a “cave” and my oh my were their elk droppings everywhere! This whole day might be my most favorite landscape…Steamboat Rock towering above was not only impressive but utterly jaw-dropping!

The girls and I sang The Star Spangled Banner and some Christmas songs (the acoustics were better than the shower).

Headwinds and whirlpools before lunch.

Another stunning red rock canyon and then camp at Jones Hole.

I made pulled pork sandwiches with all the fixings. Meg made a pineapple upside down cake in the dutch oven for dessert.

I had massive anxiety this day/night and didn’t fall asleep until close to 5:30am.

Steamboat Rock

Echo Park

Jones Hole

Day Four [on the river]: I was the last adult up. The water was boiling and when it whistled I made the french press. Zach and I cooked the breakfast burritos I had made. It started raining and the wind really picked up. We moved the stoves to a sheltered area and finished cooking them. My sister-in-law said, “happy Mother’s Day, Nicole” and whoa! I had totally forgot. The cuzzies emerged from their tent clearly holding something behind their backs…the most lovely homemade cards.

Packed up camp, and onto the river we go!

A couple minutes after launch and we were in the biggest roller-rapids I’ve ever experienced! A few felt like we were on the ocean! Not only were we nose-diving but some waves came from the side which made the boat swoosh and lots of water spilled in.

Our campsite was only an hour away. The Cove welcomed us with blazing heat and little shade. I immediately set up our tent, sleeping pads, pillows, and sleeping bags. Gathered my razor and dipped for a shave.

A storm rolled in. Wind, rain, cold, and 15 minutes later it was gone.

Isaac, Meg, Zach, and I all took our girls on a 1/4 mile walk to a slot-ish canyon.

Meg made homemade hamburger helper, and the youngest three made a sugar charcuterie for dessert.

A lovely sunset and we were off to bed.

really cold + rainy

sugar charcuterie

The Cove

Day Five [on the river]: Final day! I was ready to have a real shower, but it was also bittersweet to be packing up camp for the last time. I think we all had our systems down at this point so breaking down camp went quickly.

We rafted past Island Park and stopped at Ruple Ranch where the girls found a snake. Then we rowed almost directly across the river to see the bison petroglyph. From there it was a lovely mellow float to Rainbow Park where we stopped for lunch.

The final 8 mile stretch was filled with huge whitewater rapids (class II + III). The first drop into Moonshine felt like the boat was on the ocean (we were later told we completely disappeared below the wave). And then it was on to the next and the next which they call “wave train” rapids. The raft was rolling up and down, over and through. Water came spilling in from the nose and sides. The girls and I held on tight as we hooted and hollered! It was the most thrilling stretch of river I’ve ever been on. And then it was over too soon and we took out at Split Mountain.

Ruple Ranch

Bison Petroglyph

Rainbow Park

Split Mountain - Take Out!

We unpacked the rafts, loaded boats onto the trailers, and drove out of Dinosaur National Monument and back to Vernal. To the hotel for showers and then spoiled ourselves with dinner at a restaurant.

So grateful for the experience of rafting the Gates of Lodore!

Santa's Not Real ly Who You Think He Is...

As the youngest of five children, and with a semi-large age gap between me and my next closest sibling, I was never given the option to believe in Santa. I was told at a very young age, 'Santa isn't real, mom and dad buy all the presents and wrap them. No man comes down our chimney. And absolutely no bearded guy with rosy red cheeks lives in the North Pole with his reindeer and elves who make all the toys for good girls and boys.'

That was that, because that was fact.
I never got in a fight over whether or not he was or wasn't real.
I never spoiled it for friends.
I just accepted that was the truth.

When we had our first child I had a slight panic. What are we going to tell her? Am I going to go all out? Will I force my husband to dress up as Santa because I had a lack in "the magic" of it all and want everything over-the-top for her? 

She was four and half months old her first Christmas and could give two flying Fudgsicles whether or not she received a gift from jolly St. Nicholas.

Fast forward to when she and her younger sister could actually grasp the concept and I was in a mood. 
A mood that said, I never believed and I'm not bitter about it. 
A mood that said, it seems pretty unfair that 'this guy' gives one kid a Barbie deluxe, extraordinaire, mega house and another kid a slinky. 
A mood that said, if we lie to them about this will they believe us when we tell them x, y, and z?!

So I told my husband, we're not doing it. We're not doing 'the whole Santa thing."

That year I researched the origin of Santa and read about a man who was generous to boys and girls by filling their shoes (that they placed outside their homes) with little treats and trinkets. 
THAT is something I can get behind - a man who generously gave anonymously.

That year our church told us about filling shoeboxes with gifts to send to foreign countries.
We filled shoeboxes. 

The next year our small group went to our local mall where trees held tags with kids names, ages, and gift requests.
My heart was drawn to "blue jeans" for a 15 year old. "Snow pants" for a 12 year old. "A button up shirt for a job interview" for a 17 year old.
These little loves were asking for such practical items.
While the rest of our small group wanted to buy Legos, dolls, and other toys, I convinced them that at least one kid we picked was getting blue jeans!

The following year our church started something called Merry Market. 
The church members bought new gifts for newborns on up. Volunteers set it up like a store. Then they provided childcare while the parents "shopped" [everything is free] and wrapped gifts for their kids.
I love that it gave dignity to the parent to be the one who is providing said gift(s). 

So, here's the deal, the spirit of Santa is giving. 

Santa is your neighbor who buys gifts for his niece and nephews because his sister is a single mom. 

Santa is the grandparent who never sees their grandchildren but sends gifts every year anyway.

Santa is that person at your local Walmart who pays off layaways every year.

Santa is the volunteer who sings Christmas carols at their local Senior Living Home.

Santa is every single person who has given to Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas Child, Merry Market, and any other organization or event that provides gifts to people of all ages. 

Santa is every single person who gives anything during the holiday season.

So, Santa might not have a white beard, or wear a red and white suit, or have a reindeer named Rudolph.

But...

Santa is real.

Santa is you.

Santa is me. 

Santa is solely the sweet spirit of giving.

May your holidays be merry and bright,
Santa [a.k.a. Nicole]

Hospitality & Hosting

Have you ever walked into someone's home and felt so incredibly welcome? 
Or worse, have you walked in and immediately wanted to turn around?

Years ago my husband and I were invited to a housewarming party...cute couple, cute home, cute decor. Walked into the bathroom and literally had to put toilet paper on the seat and STILL squatted over that, because the seat was that nasty! It was as if that toilet seat hadn't been changed since the 70's. Gives me the heebies thinking about it now!

So let's start with the BATHROOM in regards to hosting. 

• Store extra toilet paper in a reachable/convenient spot. 
• Set out a bathroom spray or have a candle already lit. 
• Make sure your toilet is clean! Clean to the point your guests feel like they're the first person to ever use it. If you can't get it that clean, spend $30 on a new one.

Which brings me to CLEANING!

My biggest cleaning tips are:

• Start high and move low.
• Use products that work.
• Have a set routine that you can easily manage so it's more doable to do a quick clean before you host.
  [For example : you may need to break up your home by rooms and clean bathrooms on Monday's, kitchen on Wednesday's, everything else on Friday's...or whatever works best for your schedule.]
• Ask for help (from the other dweller(s) of the home) when you need it. 
• Pay someone to come do a deep clean and/or surface clean if that's not your thing.

I have found this to be the best combo
for cleaning showers and tubs.

There is nothing I love more than walking into a home that feels lived in, yet clean. If a home is too flawless I feel unwelcome. You know the one, with the perfectly staged couch where the throw pillows are so elegantly placed it would be a pity to move it even an 1/8 inch, so you don't feel like you can sit down. The books on shelves are for aesthetics, not to peruse, so you don't even take a gander. The countertops don't have a single appliance on them - do they use the kitchen?! Or when everything is white, so you feel dirty just standing in the home.

The overall feel you want your guests to experience is WELCOME!
You are welcome here! 

You are welcome to eat and drop crumbs.
You are welcome to open the fridge and grab yourself another drink.
You are welcome to sit on the couch. 

You are welcome here!

What specifically makes you feel welcome when you're the visitor?

Now emulate that in your own home! [And share with me in the comments!]

Guests just want to feel COMFORTABLE!

Something I've noticed is people love blankets!
From summer nights around a bonfire, to chatting on the couch, if a blanket is near they will use it!
For this reason, we have a basket with four blankets, and then two throws on the couch.

My husband is huge on the smell of the home, so over the years I've purchased many a candle.
We were gifted a diffuser with essential oils, which I should pull that out again, because 'the people' love the smell good stuff!

My only peeve about candles and diffusers is when they're near the food. Which, I'm guilty of placing them there. It makes sense to have the good smell by the smell you're trying to mask; however, it can taint the taste of the food. 

Speaking of FOOD, you gotta' serve something, anything!

Our first get-togethers we provided cold jarred queso with tortilla chips in the bag. 

We've since upgraded to heating the queso up, pouring it into a bowl (or last time into a fondue pot over a flame to keep it warm), and the chips also go into a bowl. 

We've really classed it up in the last 12 years. 

But seriously, food is incredibly important to hosting. 

If you can't afford to provide a whole meal for all your guests ask them to chip in and order pizza. 

We've also made homemade pizza crust and guests brought their own toppings.

We've done 'bring your own meat' bbq's where we provide the sides and condiments. 

Other inexpensive options include taco rice, pasta, charcuterie, dessert only, chili, brats + hot dogs.

Lastly, I would recommend having background MUSIC.
There are bound to be lull's in the conversation, laughter dissipates, and there is something extremely uncomfortable about deafening silence when there are more than two people in a room.
We have a Sonos speaker attached to our tv, and a portable plug-in one that we put outside if the need arises. 
Zach has a Spotify account, and I use Pandora. 

My most used stations: 

• Charlie Cunningham Radio 
• 70s Greatest Hits Radio [Mostly used while cleaning.]
• Jack Garratt Radio
• Yoste Radio
• Classical for Studying Radio [No lyrics!]
• I used to do Indie Chill Radio but haven't for quite a while so don't know what's even on it now.
• Elevation Worship Radio [I used this when hosting a woman's Bible study, and that one time (a couple weeks ago) a girlfriend came over and I had a nightmare paired with a panic attack the night before and had been blasting worship music since I woke up.]

Zach is definitely more in tune (see what I did there?! ;)) with the music. He can gauge a room and play something everyone enjoys! 

From cleaning, to comfort/feeling welcome, to food, to music, I think we've covered it all!

Whether it's inside or out, lots of people or just a couple, a full-on themed dinner or cold queso in a jar, I hope you are encouraged to host a gathering in your home! 

Have fun with it and let me know how it goes!

Peace, Joy, and Love be upon you,

Nicole

Bonus: GAMES!

I know they're definitely not for everyone, but I am literally screaming inside, so excited to be sharing our love of games!

Small Gathering [2-6 people]

• Clue
• Cribbage
• Farkle
• Mexican Train Dominoes
• Scattergories
• Sequence
• Smart A**
• Ticket To Ride
• Yahtzee

Larger Gathering [6 or more people]

• Apples to Apples
• Cards Against Humanity [Disclaimer: I have played with the "wrong" group and it was awful, so this one is a little iffy.]
• Catchphrase
• Charades
• Cranium
• Trivia
• I Should Have Known That
• Things They Don't Teach You In School
• 90's Trivia

Did I miss any of your favorites? Be sure to leave them in the comments if I did!

Adventures In Parenting Continued

Oh hello there!

Our home has been completely transformed.
The dining room is now an airplane and a car, allowing Penny and Lilly to go on their work trip.

They work on their "computers" (open books) looking for homes for people to buy - that's how they explained it to me.

Their room is their house.
Our master bedroom is the hotel.
The master bathroom has a pocket door so they use that as the elevator, which is exactly what my friend Melody and I used to pretend in her parents master bathroom. 

The other day Zach said, "just let them be kids."
It really struck me.
I am so controlling when it comes to keeping an aesthetically pleasing home at all times.
I strongly dislike toys in the living room.
I can't stand when blankets are strewn about.
But then as soon as other kids come over I don't mind that it's a free-for-all. 

I need to lighten up and let Penny and Lilly just be kids more often. 
It's so fun to see their imaginations soar. 
It's hilarious to hear their banter because a lot of it is things they've picked up from Zach and myself.

Penny loves to direct the majority of play, "How about I woke up and you told me you lost the keys." 
Lilly is cautious to create her own thoughts of where play should go.
Mainly she says exactly what Penny tells her to.
Sometimes, very rarely, she'll get extremely mad and say things like, "You never let me make anything up!"
So it's a moment of pride today when she responds, "Are they in the garbage can? Are they in the suitcase? Are they in Dorothy's car seat?" instead of saying, "I lost the car keys."

They found the car keys.
Dorothy gets put in the back seat in her car seat.
And they're off.

P "How about I rolled up all the car windows and she's like, "uhhhgghh." 
L "Uhhhgghh."
P "And then she says, "I don't want to be in this carseat." 
L "I don't want to be in this carseat."
P "Then she wants to unbuckle."

L no response

P "Then I had to chat with the police because they saw there wasn't a driver. I had to explain it's a car that drives itself." 

That's good stuff right there!

I follow @runwild.mychild on Instagram and they posted a photo with the caption, "Kids don't remember their best days of television."
It is too true. 
As a former child, I don't look back and remember days I sat in front of the tv.
I remember the moments of doing things.
I vividly remember playing frisbee in the street, tennis down at the courts, swimming at City Beach, hiking Big Mountain, camping at the Reservoir, having "yard sales" with my siblings and them never wanting my stuff because it was too juvenile for them, softball in our yard, picking huckleberries, going on drives to Glacier and the Bison Range, reading books in the library where my mom worked, and all the other times I wasn't sitting in front of a tv. 

So, what do you say?! Ready to make memories with your little loves that don't involve a tv?!

Cheers to being a memory maker, 
 Nicole 

Share with me your favorite childhood memory [could be yours and/or one you share with your kid(s)] either on Instagram @welcometothedowlers or in the comments here. 

Adventures in Parenting

Hello! I’m so glad you’re here! 

My hope is these "Adventures in Parenting" posts can be a space for parents to relate, feel encouraged, and sometimes laugh out loud from the ridiculousness that can be parenting.

You’re going to get such a fun glimpse into the lives of two amazing sisters Penny and Lilly.

I have the absolute pleasure of being their mom.

Aside from 9 months in Salt Lake City, Utah Penny and Lilly have lived in the Flathead Valley in Montana their whole lives. This area has a fleeting spring; beautiful summer that is usually interrupted when smoke from wildfires moves in; a long, cloudy fall; and a harsh, snowy winter when temperatures drop and mostly stay under 30 degrees F.

Penny and Lilly are 18 months and 1 day apart. Penny is 7 and very much looking forward to turning 8 in August. Lilly turned 6 in February. We get asked if they’re twins almost every time we are out in public. Which is really funny to me because aside from them being the same height they don’t share many physical characteristics. 

A little bit of our history:

• When Penny was 8 months old I quit my job (as an apartment complex manager) to stay home with her. I started a blog called "Adventures in Staying Home" where I shared all my new mommy thoughts, and sometimes tips and tricks I was learning. One month into staying home I got pregnant with Lilly. Two under two was time-consuming so the blog didn't get much (or any) attention.
• Our family loves hiking, rafting, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.
• This past school year I homeschooled Penny (2^nd grade) and Lilly (Kindergarten).
• We did the whole living in a travel trailer thang for quite a few months back in 2017/2018.

I want to share a quote from a best friend's mom, Patricia Faustini, who passed away a couple years ago. "Being a remarkable fantastic mother changes peoples lives and to this you are called. Love Patti" Patti wrote this sweet encouragement to me many years ago when I was struggling with being mother. 

Sometimes parenting is overwhelming. Mom guilt is real and can consume me with doubt, fear, and general exhaustion that I'm not good enough. When Patti shared those words it was a sweet reminder that I'm enough. I am remarkable and fantastic even when [fill in the blank]. I am remarkable and fantastic even if [fill in the blank]. 

Sometimes parenting is hilarious. At 5 years old one of the girls said, "I guess my foot didn't get any sleep last night cause it's asleep." Another time she said, "Mom, you should be an octopus. Then you could cook dinner, look at your phone, do the dishes, look in the fridge." One time we were at a restaurant eating outside and a bird flew on a table and started eating the leftover food. Lilly said, "He's such a good helper cleaning that table." I laughed and said, "you are hilarious!" She immediately responded, "I was born to be hilarious!"

Sometimes parenting is just right. Routines are flowing, everyone's getting along, and all is good.

Wherever you're at today, my hope is that you know you are enough. You have everything it takes to be the best parent you can be. 

Love well, 

Nicole 

Creating Quality Family Connections

No one sets out with a plan to neglect building family relationships. Our lives just seem to fill up with all sorts of to-do's and distractions. Sometimes, it even happens to the most intentional of us. 

It is so important to form deep bonds that help us feel safe and secure, but also we need to feel wanted. We need to feel like we're awesome to be around! Sometimes we need to remember to get out of our comfortable routines, mix it up a little, and have some good old-fashion fun together! 

So, what do you say, can you make some time to participate in a connection builder?

FAMILY NIGHT

This is a time for everyone who lives in the home to come together, either around the table or on the couch, and enjoy some quality time together. You can gather weekly or monthly. Play board games or watch a movie. Eat pizza, popcorn, candy, or allow everyone to pick their favorite snack. This should be such a special treat of a night that everyone looks forward to it! The key here is tradition, consistency, and keeping it purely fun!

OUR MOTTO
Is there a phrase or question or affirmation you want to incorporate into your family? Here are a few examples to use, or they might help you create your own. 

"In our family we build each other up. There are plenty of people who will try to tear us down."

"How were you kind today?"
"In our family we not only see the good, but we also do good."
"Whatever we do, we do it to the best of our ability."

When our girls were 2 and 4 we started saying, "kind words, happy heart, gentle hands" to remind us that our words and actions affect others. It’s something we still say to this day. 

PASS THE FAVOR TRINKET

Choose a little item. It can be a key, a rock, a figurine. Start by giving it to the oldest person. They can now ask any other family member to do a favor for them. If the family member does the favor, they get possession of the trinket and can ask a favor of anyone. The intent is learning how great it feels to help others. 

HUG

Hugs have healing power! Hugging lowers blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety, and the stress hormone cortisol. When we hug for more than 8 seconds our body releases oxytocin, which is a hormone that increases bonding and a sense of belonging. Hug it out and physically feel that connection building!

DO UNTO OTHERS

The point is to build self-esteem by saying or doing things that portray to another member of the family "you're special and appreciated."

Everyone chooses someone that for one week they will focus on. It doesn't have to be daily, but during that week you can leave a note on their pillow, buy them their favorite snack or 'that thing' they mentioned they wanted, fold/put away their laundry, draw or paint something for them. Get thoughtful. How can you uniquely show that person they are loved?

READERS ARE LEADERS

There are so many amazing books to read together as a family! 

Simply choose one reader, or take turns reading paragraphs, or chapters.
If you want to get creative and bring the book to life :

Make food mentioned in it. 
Dress up as your favorite character.

Art projects galore.

Buy a toy of a character. 

Act it out.

VISION BOARD

You'll need: 

poster board

markers
magazines/newspapers
scissors

Fill the poster board with words that describe your family, places you love to visit or hope to visit, food you enjoy, things that make you happy, etc. 

ONE-ON-ONE DATES

At least monthly every member of the family should have one-on-one time with each other. 

DINNER HELPER

They get to pick the meal. Set the table. Help make the food they chose. Whomever didn't make the meal cleans up!

YEARLY INVENTORY

Verbalize everything you are thankful for from the past year. 
This can be things you've seen, learned, done, begun, finished, decided, experienced.
And then share what you are looking forward to in the coming year.
 

The people you love are the most important relationships throughout your entire life.

My best advice to you is to try your absolute hardest to pursue connection over and over again with all those you love. 

Love well,

Nicole

Biggest Takeaways From the Book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Today, the most dangerous advice you can give a child is, 'Go to school, get good grades and look for a safe secure job.' That is old advice, and it's bad advice. 

The 'educated dad' advises to work for a corporation. The 'rich dad' advises to OWN the corporation.

Rich dad attitude in thought :

Study hard so you can find a good company to buy.

Learn to manage risk.

Total financial self-reliance.

Instead of struggling to save, create investments.

Learn how to write strong business and financial plans so you can create jobs.

Broke is temporary, and poor is eternal - it's all about your mindset.

People shape their life through their thoughts.

I don't work for money, money works for me!

Money is one form of power. But what is more powerful is financial education.

 

The main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance. 

The assets are large enough to grow by themselves. It's like planting a tree. You water it for years and then one day it doesn't need you anymore. It's roots have gone down deep enough. Then, the tree provides shade for your enjoyment.

If you want to be rich, you need to be financially literate.

Assets : stocks, bonds, notes, real estate, intellectual property

Income off assets : dividends, interest, rental income, royalties

Financial struggle is often directly the result of people working all their life for someone else.

Financial IQ is made up of knowledge from four broad areas of expertise : 

1. accounting

2. investing

3. understanding markets

4. the law

a. tax advantages

b. protection from lawsuits

We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet, one thing that holds all of us back is some degree of self-doubt. It is not so much the lack of technical information that holds us back, but more of the lack of self-confidence.

Inside each one of us is a brave, brilliant, and daring character!

There is always risk, so learn to manage risk instead of avoid it.

'Rich dad' suggested, "you want to know a little about a lot." 

Giving money is the secret to most great wealthy families. Teaching is another way of giving.

To make progress, you must first go unbalanced. Just look at how you make progress walking. If you have any desire of being rich, you must focus. Put a lot of your eggs in a few baskets. Do not do what the poor and middle class people do: put their few eggs in many baskets. 

You must overcome these 5 obstacles :

1. fear

2. cynicism

3. laziness

4. bad habits

5. arrogance

Choose your friends carefully as there is power in association. 

You become what you study.